18YB looks ahead to the highly anticipated Champions League final between Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund.
The Champions League final is
around the corner and with both the teams participating in it being German for
the first time in the history; it’s a clash that holds some real importance for
the German fans. The rise shown by both teams, especially the one from Dortmund
has been miraculous to say the least, for which a participation in the Wembley showpiece
is a testament to the player’s efforts. In a match that promises to be an end
to end game, 18YB analyses where the game could be won or lost for the
Bundesliga rivals.
| Bayern and Dortmund are all set to clash for European glory |
Jupp Heynckes will look to set up
his Bayern Munich side in a 4-4-1-1 formation with Thomas Muller the man
deployed as the second striker. A defensive version of the free flowing 4-2-3-1,
which Bayern have also used this term, it allows the second striker, in this
case Muller, to drop deep enough with a purpose of aiding his midfielders in
winning the ball back. The young German only gets a place in the crucial role
in the centre of the park due to Toni Kroos’ injury which rules him out of the
final.
| Muller alongside Mandzukic will look to drop deep to stop Dortmund's attacks at their source |
This injury though, could add width
to their side with Robben the man benefitting the most. His pace and trickery
on the right flank is always a threat on his day. Frank Ribery, who is expected
to be at his destructive best, should start on the left hand side for Bayern,
providing another attacking outlet as their cog from the deep, Schweinsteiger
looks to spray passes all across the field. Javri Martinez, on the other hand will be one
of the most important players on the pitch for the Bavarians as his sturdy
presence in the centre of the park provides for a formidable obstruction to
passes through that area for their opponents on the night.
Muller, overall though, looks to
be a man with a role who needs to turn up for the big game as his dropping deep
to suffocate the Dortmund attacks at the very initiation will be crucial in
winning back the possession for his side. At the same time, dragging either
Hummels or Subotic out of position thereby creating space for Mandzukic to run
in will also be one of his main tasks.
| Ilkay Gundogan will pull strings for Jurgen Klopp's side from the midfield |
Dormund’s pace on the wings can
certainly hurt Bayern and thus an important part of their strategy when they don’t
have the ball will be the presence of Muller, Schweinsteiger and at a slightly
deeper position, Martinez.
Dortmund, on the other hand will
set up in a rather fluid 4-2-3-1 with Sven Bender and Ilkay Gundogan at the
heart of their midfield as the deep lying midfielders. The passing in between
the lines from Reus, Sahin and Grosskreutz will be important for their flowing
football and plugging the gaps in behind Lewandowski will be the challenge for
the Bavarians’ defense. The absence of the Bayern bound Mario Gotze will be a
certain loss as the young German, for so long had been the creative mainstay behind
Dortmund’s flowing football.
Reus, who is naturally a wide
player may tend to link up with the wingers forcing Lewandowski to drop in a
deeper role, leaving Klopp’s side short of firepower upfront. Gotze not only
helped in forming the channels in and around Lewandowski but also gave the
creative freedom for Reus to use the width properly, and here is where they could
fall short. Nuri Sahin, on the other hand, if given an opportunity to start the
game in the hole behind the striker, could play the same role Gotze so
effortlessly performed throughout the season. The pace of Reus and Grosskreutz
needs to be used well and it solely depends on Klopp whether to start him in
the centre or wide right, although his best use will be running straight at
Alaba to capitalize on his rather poor sense of timing his tackles.
| Nuri Sahin could be an unlikely saviour for Dortmund tomorrow |
In the end though, the game, as
every big game does, looks to be decided in the midfield with the one who
suffocates the opposition’s midfield emerging as a winner. Both sides will look
to use their wings as necessary attacking outlets with pace, trickery and
shooting ability, all aplenty in all wide players of both sides.
With both teams likely to attack
from the word go though, neutral fans can certainly expect football at its best with some history making goals.
Written by,
Aman Arora
Aman writes for Goal India and 18YB
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